Duffy delivers maiden speech in the Seanad

Newly elected Fine Gael Senator Mark Duffy used his maiden Seanad speech to reiterate calls he has previously made for a reform of local democracy.

Senator Duffy was elected to the Seanad on the Labour Panel after serving five and a half years on Mayo County Council and is the only Mayo representative in the 27th Seanad.

Acknowledging his experience as a local councillor, Senator Duffy called on the current Seanad to advocate to bring decision-making and democracy closer to the people on the ground.

“We know, as councillors who have come up through the ranks and been elected to the Seanad, how important it is to have decision-making right at the heart of community because while many councillors in communities across Ireland are activists and are driving change, they are often doing it with their arms tied behind their backs,” he said.

“We need to resource local authorities and our elected members in every way possible to encourage the next generation of young representatives across Ireland to improve democracy.” He paid tribute to outgoing Senators Paddy Burke and Lisa Chambers and thanked the electorate for their support in the three elections he has contested in the past nine months.

“I have come through three election periods and I thank the people of Mayo who have shown their faith in me in two local elections, a recent general election and in the Seanad election.” “I thank the people of Mayo, my family and friends and my partner, Sarah. She has had great patience over the past nine months with three elections.” Senator Duffy went on, in a subsequent contribution, to second Senator Garret Ahearn’s call for a debate with the new Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien citing the N26 road project, the Western Rail Corridor and the delivery of Active Travel projects as items for discussion with the new Minister.